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13 of the Biggest Snubs to Come Out of the Oscar Nominations
22/01/2019 - 07:30 PM
When it comes to this year's Oscar nominations [1], there were definitely a few expected films, actors, and directors on the list, but that doesn't mean some of our favourites didn't get snubbed by the Academy. The best directing category, for starters, notably lacked a few big names, as did the best supporting actor category. Sadly
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[2]
Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet [3] gave one of the most heartbreaking performances of the year in Beautiful Boy, which is why it was so disappointing to see him left out of the best supporting actor category. The film tells the real-life story [4] of father and son pair David and Nic Sheff, based on their memoirs about their experience with Nic's meth addiction. Of course, while we're still sad Chalamet didn't get a nod, we have to admit that the competition for best supporting actor was fierce this year; Sam Elliot's similarly tragic performance in A Star Is Born was snubbed, as well.
Emily Blunt
Between her high-profile roles in both A Quiet Place, 2018's breakout horror hit, and the Mary Poppins sequel, Mary Poppins Returns, it sure seemed like Emily Blunt [5] would get a nod for something, especially since it was pretty clear she was campaigning for a nomination. Unfortunately, as delightful as the Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack is, Blunt didn't seem to hit the right note with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters.
A Quiet Place
Speaking of Blunt, her nightmarish scene in the bathtub in A Quiet Place [6] is still seared into our memories as one of the most terrifying moments in horror history [7]. After the success of Get Out at the 2018 Oscars — the film won for best original screenplay, and was nominated for best picture, best director for Jordan Peele [8], and best actor for Daniel Kaluuya — we admittedly had our fingers (and toes) crossed that the horror genre would get more love at this year's big show, whether for Blunt or the film's writer/director/star John Krasinski [9].
Toni Collette
Since we're discussing horror, we'd be remiss if we didn't bring up Toni Collette's lack of a nomination for best actress for her chilling turn in Hereditary. Was it a long shot that she'd get some love for playing the ill-fated Annie? Sure. Were we hoping against hope anyway? YES. That scene in the attic alone (yes, that one) is Oscar worthy.
John David Washington
John David Washington's breakout role in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman seemed like a no brainer for the AMPAS voters. He anchors the film, which is based on the wild true story of how Ron Stallworth, a black detective, infiltrated the Colourado Springs KKK in the late 1970s. Although costar Adam Driver nabbed a nomination for best supporting actor and director Spike Lee was also recognised, we're still unsure of how in the world AMPAS voters thought Washington's performance wasn't worth getting a nod.
Crazy Rich Asians
Despite being a full-blown cultural phenomenon and getting a ton of award season buzz thus far, Jon M. Chu's 2018 romantic comedy was completely shut out of the Oscar nominations. (Not even a nod for best achievement in costume design! For shame!)
If Beale Street Could Talk
Barry Jenkins' stunningly acted, carefully and lovingly adapted drama hinges around universal themes of love and family, as well as the rampant injustice people of colour face in America day in and day out. Although many thought it was a shoo-in for best picture, especially since Bohemian Rhapsody is facing claims of straightwashing Freddie Mercury's history [10], and Green Book is getting accused [11] of . . . well, a whole number of troubling things [12].
Margot Robbie
Despite enduring hours of an intense physical transformation into Queen Elizabeth I while filming Mary Queen of Scots, Margot Robbie didn't get a best actress nomination. What's not surprising is that the film picked up nods for both best costume design and best achievement in makeup and hair-styling.
Won't You Be My Neighbour?
Morgan Neville has already won an Oscar, which made his moving and perceptive portrait of icon Fred Rogers seem like an even surer bet for a nomination from the Academy. Sadly it seems like although the documentary is a touching crowd-pleaser (with a 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes [13]), AMPAS voters didn't want to visit Mr. Rogers' neighbourhood after all.
Three Identical Strangers
Another surprising snub in the best documentary category is Three Identical Strangers, which is more proof that truth is almost always stranger than fiction: – a set of triplets separated at birth discover each other years later through unbelievable circumstances.
Ryan Coogler
We breathed a sigh of relief when we saw that Black Panther [14] is one of the most-nominated films at the Oscars this year, including nods for best picture and best song. But it's frustrating to see that Ryan Coogler didn't get nominated for best director, since he brought the Marvel masterpiece to life. On that note, Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan were also snubbed for their roles in the superhero movie.
Barry Jenkins
Like we were saying earlier, If Beale Street Could Talk hasn't gotten nearly enough of the love it so deserves, especially when films like Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book are in the mix. We're thrilled Jenkins was recognised in the best adapted screenplay category, but the Moonlight director should've received a best directing nod as well.
Bradley Cooper
Yes, if you can believe it, we have ANOTHER gripe about the best directing category — where was Bradley Cooper [15]'s name? The A Star Is Born MVP not only directed it, but also starred in the film and adapted the screenplay with Eric Roth and Will Fetters. It's a shame he didn't get a nod for all aspects of his remarkable work.
Links:
[1] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/Oscar-Nominations-2019-45697608
[2] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/Star-Born-Win-Any-Oscars-45365004
[3] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/Timoth%C3%A9e-Chalamet
[4] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/Beautiful-Boy-True-Story-45293065
[5] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/Emily-Blunt
[6] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/How-Scary-Quiet-Place-44728208
[7] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/celebrity/Best-Horror-Movies-All-Time-42641178
[8] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/tag/Jordan-Peele
[9] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/John-Krasinski
[10] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/Freddie-Mercury-Sexuality-Bohemian-Rhapsody-Essay-45674488
[11] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/entertainment/Green-Book-Based-True-Story-45516990
[12] https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/collecting-the-racial-controversies-of-green-book
[13] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wont_you_be_my_neighbour
[14] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/tag/Black-Panther
[15] https://www.popsugar.co.uk/Bradley-Cooper
